Dear Middle School Parents,

This year we are pleased to have two new members joining our Middle School faculty and staff.

We are happy to welcome Mr. Robert Schaaf to Haverford this year to teach Form I and Form II Mathmatics. Mr. Schaaf is a graduate of The University of Maryland. He taught Math at the Westtown School and most recently at the Friere Charter School in Philadelphia. Mr. Schaaf has also coached baseball and wrestling. When Mr. Schaaf visited us last spring, we were all very impressed with his command of the classroom and attention he gave each and every boy. We feel truly lucky to have him with us this year as a teacher and a parent of Kindergartener, Patrick. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Schaaf to the middle school.

We are equally pleased to have Mrs. Sheri Cates as our Administrative Assistant in the Middle School. Mrs. Cates officially started with us last spring after the departure of Mrs. Collins. Mrs. Cates was the Administrative Assistant to the Head of the Middle School at Pembroke Hill School (PHS) in Kansas City, Missouri, for 11 years. She is an experienced professional who quickly adapted to all the trials and tribulations of running our middle school. Her husband, Brad, is the CFO at Episcopal and they both celebrated the marriage of one of their three sons this summer. We are very pleased to have Mrs. Cates with us at Haverford.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and Advisor Contact Sheet

Please fill out and return both sheets to Mrs. Cates by September 7, 2010. You can find these under Middle School Downloads on the right hand side of this screen. 

The AUP is for you and your son to fill out together. Please read it carefully as it has changed over the years. It covers what our expectations are for using the technology we provide at Haverford. We continue to improve the computers, software, and peripherals, and we want the boys to act responsibly when using them.

Our Advisor/Parent Contact Sheet will provide your son’s advisor with important information they can share. We have advisor time every morning during homeroom, and at least once a week outside of class. We encourage you to get to know your son’s advisor, as he or she will get to know your child well.

Books 

We provide books for all our students in Middle School. It will be their responsibility to take care of the books they receive this year and to return them at the end of the year in good condition. Because of the expense of providing books to everyone, we will charge families to replace lost or damaged books. We will still ask for the boys to be responsible with their books and the weight of their backpacks. Once in school, all boys are not permitted to carry book bags.

Even though we will collect most books at the end of the year, there will be specific locations for names and ID numbers to be placed in each book. Any book that is given to the boys to keep should have their last name in bold print on the inside and outside of that book.

Opening Day

The school year begins on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 8:15 a.m. Please be sure to drop your son off in the Centennial Hall parking lot at the appropriate time. Just like last year, please do not stop in the circle to drop off or pick up. It is not safe and causes problems with traffic flow. All boys arriving before 8 a.m. will proceed directly to the middle and upper school side of the dining hall. This dining hall opens at 7:30 a.m. every day.

Your son will need to bring all his summer reading books, journals, assignments and supplies to school on the first day, especially a pen, paper and notebook. Supply lists are available on the school website. Assignment books are provided for all middle school students.

We ask that the boys wear long pants on the first day of school.

Individual class schedules for your son will be distributed the first day of school. Your son should report to his homeroom in Crosman Hall between 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. to meet with his advisor and pick up his individual class schedule.

Daily Schedule

8:00-8:25 Chorus (when applicable)

8:15-8:25 Homeroom for students not in Chorus

8:30-9:10 1st Period Class

9:15-9:55 2nd Period Class

9:55-10:10 Break

10:10-11:20 3rd Period Class

11:20-11:45 Lunch

11:45-12:05 Break

12:05-12:45 4th Period Class

12:50-1:30 5th Period Class

1:35-2:15 6th Period Class

2:15-3:30 Athletics (Monday – Friday)

The 2010-11 Daily Rotation Calendar can be found under Middle School Downloads to the right of this letter.

Advisor System

The Middle School Advisory Program has eight advisors per grade and about nine advisees per advisor. This low ratio allows for greater communication home and a better opportunity for the advisors to know each boy. Advisor groups will meet every morning in homeroom and at least once every two to three weeks outside of class. The function of an advisor is to serve as an adult mentor and advocate. The advisor is also to provide a formal, though not exclusive, link between school and home. It will also allow for open dialog between the student and advisor about peer friendships, organization, decision-making, self-reflection, team-building, and community service. Advisors also serve to supervise the “House” system within the middle school.

House System

All middle school boys will gather in their “House” about once every two to three weeks before sports. Each House will consist of one homeroom from each grade as well as their advisors. The advisors and members of the Form II House Council will run activities designed to build community spirit, friendship, and personal growth. The goal is to create better relationships among the students and adults as boys and teachers from all three grades work together to complete activities that change during each House period.

Activities

Activities also meet about once every two to three weeks after lunch. On the first day of school, the boys will select a faculty-sponsored activity. Last year we were able to offer 16 different choices and every boy received either their first or second choice of an activity. We look to mix grades and keep the size of each activity manageable. Like House, Activities help to make connections between our faculty and students who have similar interests and helps to foster the community aspect of our school.

Student ID Cards

ID cards are issued to every student. These cards are a very important part of the boys’ school life. They are the “key” for the boys to be able to enter campus buildings. Students MUST use their ID card to enter buildings instead of using the doorbell.

All ID cards must have a photo on them. Students who attended Haverford last year as fifth graders will receive new cards on the first day of school. Most of these have lower school pictures on them. Some may not have any photo and these cards expire Sept. 30. New students to Haverford will also receive their cards on the first day of school. They do not have photos on them and these cards will also expire on Sept. 30. Students who need a picture put on their ID or those who want a new photo to replace their lower school picture will be informed of “Photo Make-up Days” that will be scheduled in the dining hall during September.

Students who lose their cards must pay a $15 replacement fee. Broken cards are replaced at no charge. The students must bring the broken card to Mrs. Cates and fill out a request for replacement form. A new card will be issued.

Breakfast and Lunch

Students may bring a lunch or they may purchase a full meal of a la carte items from our dining hall. Students may pay cash for breakfast or lunch but this is highly discouraged. Using cash slows down the lunch line and is not the safest method for payment. We strongly encourage the boys to use the debit system or the meal plan that is provided by Haverford Dining Services. All information regarding our dining services can be found on the school website. Look for the Meal Plan Election Form download and send the form in by Aug. 16. This is safer than cash because the account access is now restricted to the bar code on the back of each student ID card. Boys who wish to renew their account or add money to their account should bring a check to the Business Office made out to The Haverford School or follow the instructions on the website. A typical breakfast costs three dollars and a typical lunch is five dollars. We highly encourage our families to consider the Meal Plan that the school offers. While it has some very minor restrictions, it saves valuable time in the lunch line while providing a significant savings for our families. Every year, more and more families are choosing to use the meal plan.

Communication/Phone Calls

Please be sure to communicate any concerns you have to me as soon as possible and encourage your sons to do the same with their teachers. If you need to communicate with your son during the school day, please use our message board. Call Mrs. Cates at ext. 1228 as early as possible. She will place your message on our message board for your son to pick up. It is his responsibility to check the message board between classes. Please remind him of this. Because of sports, we cannot guarantee any messages will reach your son after 2:15 p.m. unless, of course, it is an emergency. Finally, if you call Mrs. Cates and you get her voice mail, please leave a detailed message and your telephone number if she needs to call you back.

Boys are permitted to use the school phone in case of an emergency, but they must ask for permission to do so. The school phone should not be used for problems like forgetting a lunch, homework, sports equipment, or where to be picked up after school. These problems do not qualify as an emergency. Because we have phones in every classroom, there is little need for boys to have cell phones on campus. If a boy is caught using his cell phone for any reason during the school day (8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) it will be taken from him. It will be returned after he has spoken to either Mr. Greytok or Ms. Nelson. If it is his second offense, we will ask the parents to come and collect his phone.

Boys are not permitted to call home for forgotten homework. Please remind your sons of this as we try to teach them responsibility and organization.

We will continue to post the Middle School “Weekly” newsletter on the middle school website once school begins. The “Weekly” provides up-to-date information about middle school events and the rare changes to our calendar. Please refer to our “Important Dates for Middle School Families” handout included in this mailing to see the full list of events already scheduled for this year.

Attendance: Absences, Lateness, and Homework

We expect all Middle School boys to be in their homeroom no later than 8:15 a.m. Any boy arriving to homeroom after 8:15 AM is marked late. If your son is absent, late, or will be leaving early from school, please call Mrs. Cates as soon as possible. The Middle School Attendance number is Extension 1986. All homework assignments and handouts are available on the website through “Moodle.” The boys will be taught how to access the information available to them. Teachers will also send home information for parents to access this site to check and keep track of assignments.

Transportation

By bus: If your son is new to Haverford and you would like him to be transported by your school district’s bus, please contact the Lower School Assistant, Mrs. Teresa Touey, at ext. 1232. Boys who used the school district busing to and from Haverford last year will automatically be enrolled on the same busing lists this year.

By car: Middle school students may be dropped off in the morning in front of the lower school. In the afternoon, you may pick your son up in front of the lower school. Middle school boys are not to be picked up before 3:30. Please do not arrive to pick up your son before 3:30 p.m., as he will not be ready. This also puts great stress on the lower school pickup. By 3:30 p.m. most of the lower school boys are gathered and the pickup area is free and clear. If you don’t like waiting in traffic, don’t pick up before 3:30p.m. If you are picking up both a lower and middle school boy, please make sure the lower school knows your son will be waiting for his older brother. We will take all middle school boys who are on campus after 4 p.m. to Crosman Hall unless we have written permission from his parents or guardian that he can stay late. Please do not drop your son off in any of the School’s parking lots in the morning, especially the lot by Wilson Hall.

PLEASE OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PICK UP SYSTEM IF YOU ARRIVE TO COLLECT YOUR SON BEFORE 3:30 p.m. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

If you arrive from Railroad Avenue before 3:30 p.m., please make your first left into the Blue Lot. You may park in the lower school lot and wait for your son. If you proceed through the pick-up line, a faculty member will send you to park and wait until 3:30 p.m. so you do not interfere with lower school pick-up. Someone will be stopping traffic as you exit the Blue Lot so you can safely make your way back to the car pool line. This will save you time waiting in the lower school line, reduce the traffic congestion in the main pick-up lane and create a safer situation for everyone. If you have to pick up your lower school son, please wait until 3:30 p.m. to collect both boys at the same time.

FOR THE RESPECT OF OUR BUSES AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR BOYS, PLEASE NEVER STOP IN THE CIRCLE TO PICK UP OR DROP OFF YOUR SON.

Supplies

The first day of school can be a very nervous time. Your son will need to bring all his summer reading books, journals, assignments and supplies to school on the first day, especially a pen, paper and notebook. A supply list for your son’s specific grade can be found on the School’s website. All of the items on the supply list can be purchased at almost any office supply store or online. We will provide the boys with an assignment book the first day of school.

Dress Code

The Middle School Dress Code requires a jacket (sports coat, blazer), an oxford style dress shirt (plain or striped), a necktie, “creasable” pants (please no cargo’s or painters pants), and dress shoes. No sneakers or boots please. The boys are permitted to wear dress shorts from September 8 – October 29 and again after Spring Break. Please put your son’s name on the inside label of his clothes and please put your son in long pants for the first day of school.

Gym Clothes

All middle school students are assigned a locker for Physical Education class and for after school sports. The lockers must be kept clean throughout the year and vacated at the end of the school year. The Physical Education classes require a uniform which may be purchased in the school store or through the School website; the uniform consists of gold mesh shorts, and a reversible (maroon & gold) shirt.

All students are also encouraged to use the laundry system. Every student will have a 4-inch laundry pin engraved with a number, on which he can place any clothing (Phys. Ed. or athletic uniforms) he wants washed. Returning students are to use the same pin they used last year; new students will receive their pin on the first day of P.E. class. The laundry pins ARE NOT to leave the gym building for any reason; they are property of the Athletic Department and are to be returned to the laundry room at the end of the year. There is a $10 replacement fee for any lost/missing pins at the end of the year.

Depending on what sport(s) your son plays, he may be given a uniform for the team. All uniforms must be returned (through the laundry service) immediately at the end of each season. Students are encouraged to use the laundry system as opposed to taking uniforms home between games (specific instructions will be given by coaches), and will be charged the cost of replacement if they are lost or stolen.

Lockers and Locks

Each student must purchase a lock for his locker in school. Lockers in the gym have built-in locks and the boys will not need a gym lock. Please purchase a new lock or use last year’s lock. Your son’s teacher will write down his school lock combination and will have it available if he should forget it. Please remind your sons that their lockers should stay locked at all times.

Athletic Information

On the first day of school, boys will make their choice for their fall team. Team organizational meetings will take place the first week of school, and practice will begin the second week. Coaches will provide information about equipment.

Middle School Events

Almost all of our Middle School Events are listed on an updated version of the Middle School Calendar. Please mark these dates down for your son and remember that next year the events will fall at similar times, so schedule activities accordingly. We update these calendars regularly with mailings and on our website. Please note the date on each calendar and keep the most current one, as it will be the most accurate.

Online Directory and Grades

As we did last year, we are making parent directories and student grades available online through the My Backpack section of Haverford.org. Instructions that include logins and passwords will be mailed and emailed out prior to the start of school; if you successfully went into My Backpack last year; your process is the same. If you have any questions, please contact our help desk here at school.

Parents’ Night

It is important that parents attend this evening, as you will meet all of your son’s teachers and hear about our curriculum. Please mark Wednesday, Sept. 22, on your calendars for Parents’ Night. We start at 7 p.m. sharp in Centennial Hall. Note that Parent Directories will be given out at that time.

The new school year brings with it much hope and excitement. Middle School is a wonderful and challenging place. We believe the boys grow and change more from Sixth Grade to Form II than at any other point in their lives. Our goal is to help them navigate through the potentially rough road ahead and arrive in Upper School prepared to take that next step in their young lives.

Please feel free to call us with any concerns. We would be more than happy to help you.

Sincerely,

Jay Greytok

Head of Middle School